ABOUT TYRUS WONG

To art lovers, Tyrus Wong was a renowned painter who once exhibited with Picasso and Matisse. To film buffs, he’s the visual genius behind such classic films as Bambiand Rebel Without a Cause. To Southern California beach-goers, he’s the innovative kite designer whose colorful creations fill the sky. To the Chinese in America, he’s a pioneer. And to a filmmaker, he’s the kind of subject one dreams of — talented, determined, funny, and wise.

THE FILM

TYRUS is a feature-length documentary film currently screening in film festivals all over the country.

TYRUS is the first in-depth portrait of the art, life and enduring impact of Tyrus Wong. The film takes the audience on a remarkable journey – from his birthplace of Guangzhou, China in 1910 to the boarding houses of LA’s old Chinatown and the studios of the Golden Age of Hollywood. The film explores his formative years as a young WPA artist and the influence of Sung Dynasty art on his work. At 105, Tyrus continues to live the life of an artist. We see him today, still vibrant, flying his magnificent creations high above the Pacific Ocean – the same waters he crossed as a young boy over 95 years ago.

The film includes original interviews of Tyrus Wong, guest interviews, archival footage & photos, clips and concept art from early Hollywood movies and over 80 years of Tyrus Wong artwork – much of it rare and never before seen. TYRUScaptures the richness and texture of Tyrus’s career while also revealing the inner life and character of this rare individual.